Saints Safety Jairus Byrd Happy to be off PUP List

WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va. (WGNO) – Safety Jairus Byrd and rookie offensive tackle Tavon Rooks both practiced for the first time Tuesday. Both were taken off the physically unable to perform list.

Byrd signed a $54 million contract with the club in the the first hours of free agency. But, he did not take part in the team’s off-season workouts after undergoing back surgery.

Byrd would not get into the nature of the surgery. Nor, would he say if the Saints knew of the injury when he signed with the club in March.

“I felt good about coming back,” Byrd told reporters Tuesday. “But, like coach Payton said, I want to be smart about it.”

Byrd did not take part in 11 on 11 team drills, but he did participate in 7 on 7 drills.

“We have a plan for him,” said defensive coordinator Rob Ryan. “Whatever the smart thing to do is what we are going to do. We don’t half ass anything. We make sure he is there. And, when he is up to speed. And, that’s how we do it.”